One bad inning did in the Abilene High softball team Friday in a 7-4 home loss to Keller Timber Creek.

Leading 2-0 through three innings, the Lady Eagles surrendered seven runs in top of the fourth and were never able to recover from that inning in suffering their third loss in four games.

AHS (11-12 overall, 4-5 in District 3-6A) answered with two runs in its half of the fourth but couldn't pull any closer over the final three innings.

The Lady Eagles struck first, plating two runs in their first at-bat. Sydnee Killam made it 1-0 when she drove in Jaiden Franklin with a single, before coming home herself on a Timber Creek error.

But the Lady Falcons grabbed control in the fourth, turning five walks, two singles and a pair of AHS errors into a 7-2 lead.

The Lady Eagles pulled within three on a solo home run by Kaylen Washington and an RBI single by Franklin, but those were the last two runs of the game.

Buy Photo

Abilene High's Addison Kyker hits a line drive to right field during the Lady Eagles' 7-4 loss to Keller Timber Creek on Friday at the AHS softball field.(Photo11: Daniel Youngblood/Reporter-News)

AHS outhit Timber Creek 12-6, but also committed twice as many errors (4 to 2). K'Ci Walker led all Lady Eagles with three hits, while Alyssa Washington and Trakenya Roberson each had two, including a double for Washington.

Starter Aubrianna Salazar took the loss in the circle, allowing seven runs in 3⅔ innings on three hits and five walks while striking out five. Kaylen Washington closed out the game with 3⅓ scoreless frames, surrendering three hits with one strikeout.

Turning point: The fourth inning, which saw Timber Creek turn an early deficit into a commanding lead. The first two batters of the inning walked and the next two reached on fielder's choices, before AHS finally got the first out on a liner to center. The Lady Eagles had a chance to limit the damage to two runs after a fly out for out number two, but the next five batters reached — three on walks and two on run-scoring singles.

Buy Photo

Abilene High's Hannah Lopez trips over Keller Timber Creek second baseman Sydney Smith after being forced out at first during the Lady Eagles' 7-4 loss Friday at the AHS softball field.(Photo11: Daniel Youngblood/Reporter-News)

Player of the game: Rylee Layton, pitcher, Timber Creek — Scattered 12 hits over seven innings, limiting a dynamic AHS lineup to just three earned runs.

Key stat: AHS pitchers only allowed six hits Friday, but five walks and four errors proved too much to overcome.

What this means: That the Lady Eagles are back under .500 for both the season and in District 3-6A play, and will need to win two of their last three to avoid a losing district record.

Up next: AHS will be on the road for both of its games next week, playing at Weatherford on Tuesday and at Haltom City Haltom on Friday, before wrapping up the season April 20 with a home game against Keller Fossil Ridge.

Coach said: "They're a good team. They're in second place, but we've got to find a way to avoid a couple of mistakes on defense," AHS coach Jim Reese said. "If we had done that, I think we win by three or four because those last three or four runs were unearned.

"But I'm going to focus on the positive. We never quit and came back. It was just frustrating because I think we're as good a team as they are."